Peters



D. WATSON. Sidewalk. No. 223,784. Patnted Jan; 20, I880.

N4 PETERS. FHOTO-LITHDGHAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

U ITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

DANIEL WATSON, F NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HISRIGHT TO JAMES MAHONY, OF SAME PLACE.

SIDEWALK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,784, dated January20, 1880 Application filed June 4. 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL WATSON, ofNewport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Sidewalks infront of retail dry-goods stores and in analogous situations in coldclimates, of which the following is a specification.

. I have devised a construction which, by the aid of stean1-which may beexhaust-steam from a steam-engine-will keep the sidewalks clear o snowand ice, and, except during the actual falling of suwllrpppgi ly dry.

I provide, under-wind in combination with a hard sidewalk-surface, aseries of connected pipes, into and through which I discharge the steam.Provision being made for the escape of the condensed water and forregulating the operation so as .to avoid overheating, I can in sure aclear and relatively dry sidewalk under all conditions.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

5 The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line S S in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is aplan, partly in section, on the line T T in Fig. 1.

3 Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A is a surface of cast-iron, properly ridged, and adapted to serve allthe ordinary functions of a strong proper sidewalk. Beneath this Iarrange pipes B in such proximity as to impart sufiicient heat theretowhen the pipes are properly warmed with steam.

M is the wall of the adjacent building, and N is the street-pavement.The steam is in- 4 troduced into the pipe B through a connection, b,from the discharge-port of a steam-engine. (Not represented.) The pipe Bmakes a sufficient number of turns to thoroughly heat the space underthe plate A. The plate A re ceives a constant accession of heat frombelow, which may be regulated by supplying more or less steam throughthe pipe B, according to the severity of the weather and the quantity ofsnow to be melted, or of melted 5 snow or of rain to be dried up.

I believe that the device may be operated with some success by simplythe employment of the pipes B, bedded in the earth or in masonry at alittle distance below the plates A but I have devised a more elaborateconstrue tion for working out the invention in its completest form.

A is a bottom plate, cast in one or pieces with the top plate, A,- andconnected therewith by continuous upright webs A A at each side, and byone or more broken or openwork webs, A along the interior. There is alsoa continuous web, A, along the outer and inner edge of the casting,making the entire pieces a single tight box. Within this the steam isallowed to circulate through the pipe B, which heats the air allthrough, and thus imparts the proper moderate heat to be transmittedthrough the top plate, A, and produce the desired efi'ect. 7

I can, where the pipes are employed, fill the remainder of the interiorof the casting with masonry, ashes, or other cheap solid material, whichwill have the effect to moderate the intensity and to longer retain theheat.

In ordinary cases it will be preferable to form the castingAA, &c., insections. I have represented them as each of suflicient length to extendfrom the curb nearlyinward to the building. The sections are connectedby U-shaped 8O pipes O, which should be sufficiently elastic to allowfor imperfect workmanship, and for the variations in contraction andexpansion, and for any slightdisturbance in the positions by settling.When the pipes B are employed the 5 connections 0 should be sufficientlylarge to allow the corresponding sections of the pipe B to be extendedthrough, as shown.

The top plate, A, should be incline-d a little to shed the water towardthe curb. The bot- 9 tom plate, A, should be inclined in the otherdirection. The connections 0 should be as near the bottom of the castingas is practicable, to allow the Water to flow freely from one sectioninto the next, and so on to the end, to be discharged through the lastconnection, 11 the latter to connect with a pipe, N, which may allow thewater of condensation to flow downward and escape through a drain, Whileany steam which comes out through the system 1 may be discharged upwardthrough the top of the building, if desired.

Various modifications may be made. One section may be provided with asuitably-inclosed hole and cover, to serve the ordinary uses in takingin coal. The top plate, A, may be equipped with roughening material. Itmay be liberally lighted with glass, either in large panes or in smalleasily-detachable lights in common use. Such will, of course, only beused where the bottom plates, A, are dispensed with and the pipes B arerelied on forimparting sulficient heat.

The casting A A A can be made in two or more separate pieces, boltedtogether with suitable joints, if preferred.

I propose to extend the casting outward into the street a little way,sufficiently at least to form the gutter, or that portion immediatelyadjacent to the sidewalk.

I believe it may be practicable to extend out the casting to anindefinite distance toward the center of the street, and to carry thesame warming system out into that portion, so as to make my inventionnot only melt the snow from the sidewalk and the immediately adjacentpart of the street, but from as much of the ordinary street-surface asmay be desired.

I propose in situations where the sidewalk has been already finished ata low level, and a little higher elevation of the sidewalk may bea110Wed,to construct the improved sidewalk by simply applying thesections together upon the top of the previously-formed sidewalk. Insuch case I can provide a proper inclined approach at each end, tofacilitate the walking over it, and the sectional top surface may bealtogether of iron, or formed with a top, of

which the whole or a greater part should beearthy material, as concrete,to prevent slipping and to afford a proper walking-surface. Suchsidewalk may be temporary or permanent on the top of the ordinarysidewalk. It is important in either case that a suificient space, eitherfilled with air or with earthy material, as ashes, cement, or other slowconductor, be interposed between the steam-pipes and the upper surfacewhen the latter is of metal, in order to avoid the intense heat whichwould be otherwise developed at points if the steam or hot water wereallowed to come in direct contact with the under surface of such iron.

Having thus described my invention, I would have it understood that I donot claim, broad- 1y, a pavement having a hollow space or channelbeneath the same for the purpose of receiving a stream of heated air orsteam; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- Thecastings A, formed in sections, connected by curved pipes O, incombination with theinclosed pipes B and connections 1), arranged toserve as a pavement for sidewalks or streets, or both, as hereinspecified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DANIEL WATSON.

Witnesses:

WM. GILPIN, OHARLEs F. DAVENPORT.

